RHEOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF STIRRED YOGURT - VISCOMETRY

Rheological characteristics of stirred yoghurt, varying in dry matter content, fermentation temperature and composition of bacteria cultures, were evaluated using a Bohlin VOR Rheometer. Flow curves, covering the shear rate range 29-920 s-1, generally indicated the presence of a yield point and pseudoplastic behaviour, but also Bingham plastic behaviour was observed for some of the specimens. Systematic variations in the profile of the flow curves were observed as a result of the applied manufacturing conditions. Flow curves exhibiting pseudoplastic behaviour with a yield stress could not, over this broad shear rate interval, be described satisfactorily by the often applied Casson or Herschel-Bulkley models, and consequently a new one, the QRS-model was introduced. This model contains three parameters and gave a significantly better fit, with R2 values generally above 0.99.